Responding to an announcement by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) of a new England-wide strike action ballot, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"We must remember that the ballot for industrial action by nurses is yet to open and it's important not to pre-empt the outcome.

"There is still time for serious talks between the government and unions to resolve these ongoing disputes and to avert further strikes.

"However, trust leaders will understandably be alarmed by the prospect of more disruptive strikes by nurses – but this time at a national level – just as the NHS is dealing with the aftermath of the most significant period of industrial action in the health service's history."